An almost outmoded controversy over the relative importance of heredity or genes (nature) and environment or experience (nurture) as independent causal agents in the development of the individual. Thus it amounts to a short-hand summary of distinctions between genetically based and experientially derived functions. Contrasting the terms ‘nature’ and nurture’ was first done by Richard Mulcaster (1530-1611), a schoolteacher who eventually became high master at St Paul’s School, London, at least in the English language. Adopted by Francis Galton (1822-1911), he popularised it in the English-speaking world during the 19th and early 20th century. .
See Biological knowledge, Experience, Hereditary, Heritability, Innate versus acquired debate, Maturation versus learning debate, Non-shared environmental influences, Ontogenetic skills, Shared environmental influences